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This is more than just a grade. It’s a confirmation that my plans are good. Max might be sensing the turmoil in me, because he shifts until his whole hand engulfs mine.
And then the jury delivers the result. The words echo across the silent classroom as the woman says, “Approved. We would absolutely invest.”
CHAPTER 33
MAX
Ican tell the bottled-up emotions inside her are about to explode. It’s in the way her eyes glaze over, how her cheeks grow red as apples, and how she has to bite her lips.
“Next team,” the lecturer calls in a bored tone of voice. I wait until he’s jotted down our passing grade on his notepad before moving.
First, I offer my arm to Luz. She takes it, as though she hasn’t just walked all over the place in her heels without issue. Second, I wait until we’re right beside the lecturer to speak.
“So glad we got paired together, huh? That way we didn’t hold anyone else back.”
The lecturer’s eyebrows crash. Maybe he thought we were such airheads we’d even forget his thinly veiled insults. But no, I’m a sensitive little prick, and I remember every stinking little slight ever done to me. And now, I will remember each one done unto my girlfriend too.
As we climb back up to our seats, twinkles dance in her eyes. “Oh, you’re so petty. I love it.”
It. Not me. But I’ll take it.
I push my chair blatantly closer to hers when we’re back in our spots. Our thighs are glued to each other, and so are our hands. I wish I could celebrate this victory by wrapping my arms around her and staying like that for a long time. Instead, another half hour of presentations passes, and I struggle not to doze off.
“Follow me,” Luz whispers once class is done and we’re shrugging on our coats.
At the rate things are going, I would follow her into a black hole if she asked. I tag along behind her in silence as we weave through clusters of students in the hallways. Our super fancy attires catch quite a lot of attention, but I don’t care. All I see is the back of her head and the smooth dark hair that cascades down her back and swings with every one of her powerful steps.
She rounds a corner and opens a random door. Except it has a small sign plate that reads STORAGE, and I realize this isn’t random at all. Luz waits until I cross the threshold to close and lock the door. I take only one moment to take in the dusty shelves stacked with papers and books in the too-small room lit only by the sunlight coming in through a tiny window. Because in the next second, she slams me against the door and pulls me down by my tie.
The last thing I see is her wide grin before she kisses me. I inhale her scent, something that is only hers. There’s a crashing sound as I let my bag drop to the floor. Finally, I reward myself by wrapping my arms around her.
“You were incredible,” I murmur against her lips. “Gave me a thing for CEO women now.”
“Women?” She pulls back to frown.
“Hmm.” I pretend to think about it. “No, only you’re the CEO of my heart.”
A little exhalation escapes her lips. “Max.”
“Stop, I can see the engines in your head whirring.” I reach up to smooth her brow with my thumb. “You don’t have to say anything. I’ll stop if it bothers you.”
“Precious fool.” The words surprise me, not gonna lie. Luz clasps her hands around my head, forcing me to lean down another notch. She traps my lower lip in a soft kiss before releasing it with a pop. “You have no idea how lovable you are, do you?”
“I have no idea what my name is right now.” Especially not with my hands around her hips.
“Max.” She sounds surprisingly serious. I stop staring at her smudged lips and focus back on her eyes. “There’s something you need to know.”
I cringe. “Oh, that sounds bad.”
Luz bites her lower lip, giving me no indication as to whether this is good or bad other than the fact she hasn’t stepped away.
“I am absolutely”—she draws in a breath—“irrevocably into you in a way that scares me.”
“Oh?” I lift my eyebrows. “Why does it scare you?”
“Because you have my fragile little heart in that big paw of yours, and you could crush it so easily.”
“You’re wrong.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “We exchanged hearts. That’s all.”
